Effects of propofol on early phase of warm hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury

Background/Aims: It is still unclear whether propofol may protect the liver against ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) in vivo. Methodology: The livers of male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 60 minutes of partial normothermic ischemia allowing perfusion to right and caudate lobes and subsequent 45 minutes of reperfusion. Either propofol (Propofol group, n=11, 10mg/kg/h) or saline (Control group, n=11) was continuously administered. At the end of reperfusion blood and liver samples were taken to analyze malondialdehyde, hepatic injury score, palmitate oxidation rate, serum AST and ALT concentrations. Results: The malondialdehyde concentration (mu mol/g tissue, mean +/- SD) was decreased in the Propofol group (1.39 +/- 0.21, perfused lobes and 1.85 +/- 0.27, ischemic reperfused lobes) compared with Control group (1.97 +/- 0.20, perfused lobes and 2.39 +/- 0.28, ischemic reperfused lobes) (P < 0.01). Hepatic injury scores were decreased in Propofol group compared with Control group (P < 0.01), but with mild hepatic injury in both groups. There were no differences of serum AST and ALT concentrations, and palmitate oxidation rate between groups. Conclusions: Propofol might be effective mainly in attenuation of lipid peroxidaton with only minimal hepatocellular protection during the early phase of warm hepatic IRI in vivo.